A dog getting his ear wellness exam done.

Preventative Care

If you want your pet to beat the average age and live a better quality of life, then follow simple advice below to help your pet live a happy, healthy life.
We estimate that by following this advice, you could help your pet live up to an additional five years compared to pet owners who do not follow these simple rules. 

Wellness Exams

Your pet’s health is always our number one priority, which is why for most pets we recommend annual wellness exams to ensure that your animal companion remains in good health. If your pet is a senior–over seven for dogs, over nine for cats–we strongly suggest twice-yearly exams and blood screenings. That’s because pets age more rapidly than humans, meaning disease and illness develop faster as well.

Destin Animal Clinic’s veterinarian-performed physical exams comprehensively assess every aspect of your pet’s health. Cats and dog’s wellness exams typically include:

  • Ear exam
  • Eye exam
  • Rectal exam
  • Dental exam
  • Skeletal exam
  • Reproductive system exam
  • Internal health evaluation
  • Neurological evaluation
  • Cardiovascular evaluation
  • Nutrition consultation
  • Behavior counseling

Choose A Quality Diet For Your Pet

We are what we eat, we’ve all heard the phrase and it’s just as important for pets as it is for people. The problem is that with so many diet choices available it can be hard to pick out the right diet for your pet. Consult with your veterinarian to determine which food is best for your pet.

Prevent Parasites

We live in an area with an abundance of parasites. Florida hosts parasites in fleas, intestinal worms, heartworms, and ticks. We recommend to keep your pet on year round prevention. 

Vaccinations – The Truth

The Internet has allowed so many fear-based myths to spread and this has lead to people thinking that it’s OK not to vaccinate their pets. We want to be very clear on this. Vaccines are necessary, for the most part safe and animals that are vaccinated live longer, happier and healthier lives than those who are not vaccinated. 

Young animals are like kids–it’s a never-ending job to keep them safe and happy. Vaccinating your pet is a relatively inexpensive but very important way to protect his or her health. In addition to preventing many life-threatening illnesses, vaccinations can prevent diseases prevalent in wildlife and those that can be passed to humans. It’s important to administer vaccinations when pets are puppies and kittens because their young immune systems are still developing and need protection to stay healthy.

While any medical treatment involves some degree of risk, in the case of vaccinations, the benefits far outweigh any potential side effects. Adverse reactions are rare and usually mild and short-term when they do occur.

Which vaccines should your pet have? “Core” vaccines are those recommended—and possibly mandated by law—for most pets. Core vaccines include:

  • Rabies (dogs and cats)
  • DA2PPV – Distemper, Hepatitis, Adenovirus 2, Parvo and Parainfluenza (dogs)
  • FVRCP – Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus and Panleukopenia (cats)

Other non-core, but highly suggested vaccinations for cats include FIV for feline immunodeficiency virus and FeLV to protect against feline leukemia. For dogs, bordetella and canine influenza shots are recommended if they frequent dog parks, boarding kennels, or any place where they’re socializing with other canines.

It’s also important to note that even pets who live primarily indoors should be vaccinated, as they can still be exposed to a disease. Your Destin Animal Clinic veterinarian can advise you which vaccinations are required or recommended for your pet based on age, health, and lifestyle.

Prevent Dental Disease

Dental Disease will happen to your pet and chances are it will happen early. The answer? Brush your pet’s teeth and have a dental well-being assessment every six months.  We offer Destin’s best value dental well-being program. When it comes to teeth, prevention is so much better (and cheaper) than cure. 

Pet Wellness Exams Near You

Pet owners in the Destin, FL area trust Destin Animal Clinic with their pet’s annual wellness exams.

Make An Appointment online to learn more.